Minister: Blasphemy should not be a crime in Ireland
A cabinet minister says Ireland's ban on blasphemy needs to be removed - but it cannot be done overnight.
Simon Coveney was responding to yesterday's shooting in Paris against staff at a satirical magazine, by suspected Islamist militants.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine says the Constitution should not include a ban on blasphemy as it currently does.
But he says any change would involve a complicated process, and Ireland needs to be careful about altering the wording.
He said: "On the general issue, Ireland needs to sell itself, and needs to be a modern state that welcomes diversity and welcomes difference."
Article 40 of the Irish Constitution (1937) states that:
In addition Section 36 of the Defamation Act (2009) provides for a fine of up to €25,000 for anyone convicted of the offence.
